Dole out PFD funds before they're lost
I am writing in response to the article "State money managers stay the course; Alaska Permanent Fund loses billions in market decline" written Oct. 19. This is a warning and if we do not do something about it, Alaskans will lose it all. The PFD board needs to have an emergency meeting so that they could come up with a solution to this crisis. One of the things that they should do is give Alaskans $25,000 each, before we lose another $10 billion within the next months. They should give the money now before the end of the year or we will lose it all. Even if we give Alaskans some extra money this year, we will still have some money left over to continue the PFD.

Election sign won't go to landfill
I applaud Gregory Acres who expressed concern, in his Wednesday, Oct. 15, letter to the editor, about the environment and Juneau's landfill problems. I would just like to reassure Acres that I, for one, will not be adding to the landfill problem. After the election, I plan to give my "OBAMA For President" a place of honor in my home, where I will proudly display it for the rest of my life.

Adopt-A-Highway sign draws ire
At first glance it appears to be an average Adopt-A-Highway sign, but if you take a deeper look at the "Men's Crisis Center" sign on North Douglas Highway you will see a social club's idea of a joke that local women's organizations say is offensive and demeaning to women.

Alaska's Obama supporters reach out to swing states
Gov. Sarah Palin has cemented Republican presidential candidate John McCain's chances of picking up Alaska's three electoral votes, state polls show, backing up the conventional wisdom that vice-presidential candidates typically carry their home states for their campaigns.

Photo: Swan layover
A large flock of trumpeter swans is lifted off a sandbar by the rising tide Sunday in the Mendenhall Wetlands State Wildlife Refuge. Sixty-two migrating adults and juveniles were counted in the flock, a number not often seen in Juneau.

A year later, Weyhrauch awaits trial
Former Juneau Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch appears to be on the verge of a big victory in his fight against federal corruption charges. Weyhrauch is hoping to get a key charge against him dismissed. The charge is one of four on which he was indicted in May of 2007 and has yet to stand trial.

City compromises on Fisherman's Bend lease
After a year of negotiation and appraisals, the city Assembly accepted a compromise Monday night from the Fisherman's Bend owners on rent for their marina's tidelands.

Photo: Snap to attention
William Torgerson, 7, leans in for a better view of an alligator snapping turtle handled by naturalist Scott Shupe during a program Sunday at the Douglas Library and Fire Department titled "The World of Reptiles."

Photos: Hospital opens new doors
After officials held a small ceremony and cut a ribbon Monday, Bartlett Regional Hospital staff, city officials and members of the public enter the new front entrance of the hospital.

Photos: Celebrating Alaska Day
Ron Conklin, portraying Russian Naval Capt. Alexi Pestchouroff, accepts the Russian flag on Saturday after it is replaced by the U.S. flag atop Castle Hill in Sitka during a re-enactment of Alaska's Oct. 18, 1867, transfer from Russia to the United States.

Correction
An article on the cleanup of the old Tulsequah Chief mine site in British Columbia incorrectly identified David Chambers. He is a geophysicist and the president of the Center for Science in Public Participation, based in Bozeman, Mont.

My turn: SEACC: Ball in Coeur's court
SEACC wants the Kensington to be developed responsibly in a way that protects our clean water and Berners Bay. This is why we worked with Coeur Alaska and the regulatory agencies for over a year to develop a paste tailings plan that would be a win-win for both Coeur and Berners Bay. It's also why we still want to help move that plan forward.

My turn: Not all of the Troopergate questions were answered
Many questions still surround "Troopergate." For instance, does the Branchflower report vindicate Gov. Sarah Palin, as she claims? Why do we care? What I mean is, why do we care what Stephen E. Branchflower thinks? He's only one guy - picked by former co-worker, Sen. Hollis French, and paid a lot of money to report on the governor.

Alaska editorial: Prosecution's shabby conduct undermines public confidence
Alaskans wanted, and they deserved, a fair and impartial airing of the criminal charges against Sen. Ted Stevens. If the federal government proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, the serious allegations against Alaska's senior senator, even his most ardent political supporters would have had to accept the conclusions from our system of justice.

Outside editorial: Is capitalism dead?
Is this the end of American capitalism? As financial panic spread across the globe and governments scrambled to contain the damage, reality seemed to announce the doom of U.S.-style free markets and President Bush's ideology.

Divides aside, Va. GOP agrees McCain fumbled
Some Republicans say John McCain is in danger of becoming their party's first presidential candidate since 1964 to lose Virginia because he hasn't put enough stress on issues such as illegal immigration, gay marriage and abortion.

Todd Palin gets look at racing on wheels
MARTINSVILLE, Va. - The husband of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is known for winning the world's longest snowmobile race four times. On Sunday, he got a taste of speed on asphalt instead of ice.

JDHS spikers swept
The Juneau-Douglas High School volleyball team finally found some offensive success by shuffling their lineup at Mount Edgecumbe Saturday night, but fell short after pushing the Braves to four games.

We B Bad leads mixed bowling at quarter end
The first quarter of the Sunday Mixed Bowling League closed this week with the Lucky Strikes sweeping four games from first place We B Bad and the Kit Shickers taking three games from Just For Fun to close the gap between first and second place to four games.

Appeal could hold up Exxon payments
ANCHORAGE - Prince William Sound commercial fishermen have waited 19 years for punitive damages in the 1989 Exxon Valdez crude oil spill case and another delay may be coming.

Final arguments set to begin in Stevens trial
WASHINGTON - In its four-year probe into corruption in Alaska politics, the Justice Department has secured five guilty pleas and won three convictions of lobbyists, business leaders and state lawmakers.

Palin draws big ratings for SNL
NEW YORK - The entertainment summit of the season - Sarah Palin and her impersonator, Tina Fey - earned "Saturday Night Live" its best ratings in 14 years. But if you blinked, you might have missed it.

Exxon Mobil works to resolve lease dispute
Exxon Mobil Corp. and state officials are trying to settle a complex lawsuit over a North Slope natural gas field deemed essential to a successful 1,170-mile pipeline project.